Selective infection of CD4+ effector memory T lymphocytes leads to preferential depletion of memory T lymphocytes in R5 HIV-1-infected humanized NOD/SCID/IL-2Rgammanull mice

Two-step evolution of HIV-1 budding system leading to pandemic in the human population

The pandemic HIV-1, HIV-1 group M, emerged from a single spillover event of its ancestral lentivirus from a chimpanzee. During human-to-human spread worldwide, HIV-1 diversified into multiple subtypes. Here, our interdisciplinary investigation mainly sheds light on the evolutionary scenario of the viral budding system of HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C), a most successfully spread subtype. Of the two amino acid motifs for HIV-1 budding, the P(T/S)AP and YPxL motifs, HIV-1C loses the YPxL motif. Our data imply that HIV-1C might lose this motif to evade immune pressure. Additionally, the P(T/S)AP motif is duplicated dependently of the level of HIV-1 spread in the human population, and >20% of HIV-1C harbored the duplicated P(T/S)AP motif. We further show that the duplication of the P(T/S)AP motif is caused by the expansion of the CTG triplet repeat. Altogether, our results suggest that HIV-1 has experienced a two-step evolution of the viral budding process during human-to-human spread worldwide.

Current Advances in Humanized Mouse Models for Studying NK Cells and HIV Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected millions of people worldwide and continues to be a major global health problem. Scientists required a small animal model to study HIV pathogenesis and immune responses. To this end, humanized mice were created by transplanting human cells and/or tissues into immunodeficient mice to reconstitute a human immune system. Thus, humanized mice have become a critical animal model for HIV researchers, but with some limitations. Current conventional humanized mice are prone to death by graft versus host disease induced by the mouse signal regulatory protein α and CD47 signaling pathway. In addition, commonly used humanized mice generate low levels of human cytokines required for robust myeloid and natural killer cell development and function. Here, we describe recent advances in humanization procedures and transgenic and knock-in immunodeficient mice to address these limitations.

Sympathetic Nerves and Innate Immune System in the Spleen: Implications of Impairment in HIV-1 and Relevant Models

The immune and sympathetic nervous systems are major targets of human, murine and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1, MAIDS, and SIV, respectively). The spleen is a major reservoir for these retroviruses, providing a sanctuary for persistent infection of myeloid cells in the white and red pulps. This is despite the fact that circulating HIV-1 levels remain undetectable in infected patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy. These viruses sequester in immune organs, preventing effective cures. The spleen remains understudied in its role in HIV-1 pathogenesis, despite it hosting a quarter of the body’s lymphocytes and diverse macrophage populations targeted by HIV-1. HIV-1 infection reduces the white pulp, and induces perivascular hyalinization, vascular dysfunction, tissue infarction, and chronic inflammation characterized by activated epithelial-like macrophages. LP-BM5, the retrovirus that induces MAIDS, is a well-established model of AIDS. Immune pathology in MAIDs is similar to SIV and HIV-1 infection. As in SIV and HIV, MAIDS markedly changes splenic architecture, and causes sympathetic dysfunction, contributing to inflammation and immune dysfunction. In MAIDs, SIV, and HIV, the viruses commandeer splenic macrophages for their replication, and shift macrophages to an M2 phenotype. Additionally, in plasmacytoid dendritic cells, HIV-1 blocks sympathetic augmentation of interferon-β (IFN-β) transcription, which promotes viral replication. Here, we review viral–sympathetic interactions in innate immunity and pathophysiology in the spleen in HIV-1 and relevant models. The situation remains that research in this area is still sparse and original hypotheses proposed largely remain unanswered.

Perspectives on Non-BLT Humanized Mouse Models for Studying HIV Pathogenesis and Therapy

A variety of humanized mice, which are reconstituted only with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) or with fetal thymus and HSCs, have been developed and widely utilized as in vivo animal models of HIV-1 infection. The models represent some aspects of HIV-mediated pathogenesis in humans and are useful for the evaluation of therapeutic regimens. However, there are several limitations in these models, including their incomplete immune responses and poor distribution of human cells to the secondary lymphoid tissues. These limitations are common in many humanized mouse models and are critical issues that need to be addressed. As distinct defects exist in each model, we need to be cautious about the experimental design and interpretation of the outcomes obtained using humanized mice. Considering this point, we mainly characterize the current conventional humanized mouse reconstituted only with HSCs and describe past achievements in this area, as well as the potential contributions of the humanized mouse models for the study of HIV pathogenesis and therapy. We also discuss the use of various technologies to solve the current problems. Humanized mice will contribute not only to the pre-clinical evaluation of anti-HIV regimens, but also to a deeper understanding of basic aspects of HIV biology.

Humanized Mice for the Evaluation of Novel HIV-1 Therapies

With the discovery of antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection has transitioned into a manageable but chronic illness, which requires lifelong treatment. Nevertheless, complete eradication of the virus has still eluded us. This is partly due to the virus’s ability to remain in a dormant state in tissue reservoirs, ‘hidden’ from the host’s immune system. Also, the high mutation rate of HIV-1 results in escape mutations in response to many therapeutics. Regardless, the development of novel cures for HIV-1 continues to move forward with a range of approaches from immunotherapy to gene editing. However, to evaluate in vivo pathogenesis and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic approaches, a suitable animal model is necessary. To this end, the humanized mouse was developed by McCune in 1988 and has continued to be improved on over the past 30 years. Here, we review the variety of humanized mouse models that have been utilized through the years and describe their specific contribution in translating HIV-1 cure strategies to the clinic.

Advances in Humanized Mouse Models to Improve Understanding of HIV-1 Pathogenesis and Immune Responses

Although antiretroviral therapy has transformed human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) from a deadly infection into a chronic disease, it does not clear the viral reservoir, leaving HIV-1 as an uncurable infection. Currently, 1.2 million new HIV-1 infections occur globally each year, with little decrease over many years. Therefore, additional research is required to advance the current state of HIV management, find potential therapeutic strategies, and further understand the mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis and prevention strategies. Non-human primates (NHP) have been used extensively in HIV research and have provided critical advances within the field, but there are several issues that limit their use. Humanized mouse (Hu-mouse) models, or immunodeficient mice engrafted with human immune cells and/or tissues, provide a cost-effective and practical approach to create models for HIV research. Hu-mice closely parallel multiple aspects of human HIV infection and disease progression. Here, we highlight how innovations in Hu-mouse models have advanced HIV-1 research in the past decade. We discuss the effect of different background strains of mice, of modifications on the reconstitution of the immune cells, and the pros and cons of different human cells and/or tissue engraftment methods, on the ability to examine HIV-1 infection and immune response. Finally, we consider the newest advances in the Hu-mouse models and their potential to advance research in emerging areas of mucosal infections, understand the role of microbiota and the complex issues in HIV-TB co-infection. These innovations in Hu-mouse models hold the potential to significantly enhance mechanistic research to develop novel strategies for HIV prevention and therapeutics.

HIV-1 tracing method of systemic viremia in vivo using an artificially mutated virus pool

The appearance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plasma viremia is associated with progression to symptomatic disease and CD4⁺ T cell depletion. To locate the source of systemic viremia, this study employed a novel method to trace HIV-1 infection in vivo. We created JRCSFξnef, a pool of infectious HIV-1 (strain JR-CSF) with highly mutated nef gene regions by random mutagenesis PCR and infected this mutated virus pool into both Jurkat-CCR5 cells and hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mice. Infection resulted in systemic plasma viremia in humanized mice and viral RNA sequencing helped us to identify multiple lymphoid organs such as spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow but not peripheral blood cells as the source of systemic viremia. Our data suggest that this method could be useful for the tracing of viral trafficking in vivo.

CCR5 deficiency impairs CD4+ T-cell memory responses and antigenic sensitivity through increased ceramide synthesis

CCR5 is not only a coreceptor for HIV‐1 infection in CD4⁺ T cells, but also contributes to their functional fitness. Here, we show that by limiting transcription of specific ceramide synthases, CCR5 signaling reduces ceramide levels and thereby increases T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR) nanoclustering in antigen‐experienced mouse and human CD4⁺ T cells. This activity is CCR5‐specific and independent of CCR5 co‐stimulatory activity. CCR5‐deficient mice showed reduced production of high‐affinity class‐switched antibodies, but only after antigen rechallenge, which implies an impaired memory CD4⁺ T‐cell response. This study identifies a CCR5 function in the generation of CD4⁺ T‐cell memory responses and establishes an antigen‐independent mechanism that regulates TCR nanoclustering by altering specific lipid species.

The Preconditioning of Busulfan Promotes Efficiency of Human CD133+ Cells Engraftment in NOD Shi-SCID IL2Rγcnull (NOG) Mice via Intra-Bone Marrow Injection

Human CD133⁺ stem cells were injected into the bone marrow cavity of NOG (NOD Shi-SCID IL2Rγc^null) mice with or without preconditioning of busulfan in order to assess the efficiency of human CD133⁺ cells engraftment. Peripheral blood from CD133⁺-engrafted NOG mice was analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that human CD19⁺ B lymphocytes could be detected at 4 weeks post-transplantation, and human CD4⁺, CD8⁺ subsets of T lymphocytes, CD19^– CD14^– HLA-DR⁺ DCs and CD19^– CD14⁺ monocytes could be detected at 16 weeks post-transplantation. The survival rate of mice in busulfan-untreated group (100%) was slightly higher than that in the busulfan-pretreated group (83%) (P > 0.05). However, the differentiation efficiency of CD133⁺ stem cells in busulfan-pretreated group was significantly higher than that in the untreated group (P < 0.05). This data imply that CD133⁺ cells could be a good resource for a humanized mouse model, and the preconditioning of busulfan could be more conducive to accelerating the differentiation of human CD133⁺ cells in NOG mice by intra-bone marrow injection.

Induction of APOBEC3B cytidine deaminase in HTLV-1-infected humanized mice

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Following viral infection with HTLV-1, certain infected cells exhibit clonal proliferation. Additional genetic and epigenetic changes in these clonally proliferating cells provide them with the selective advantage of growth, which eventually results in ATL. The precise mechanism, however, has yet to be completely elucidated. It has previously been established that APOBEC3 enzymes are potent host-antiviral restriction factors. Conversely, previous studies have reported that the A3B level is increased in tumor virus infections, such as those caused by HBV and HPV, suggesting that A3B exerts a function as a mutagen. Therefore, the present study analyzed the expression of APOBEC3 family members in various HTLV-1 infection states. No significant differences were observed in the expression between healthy donors and patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy. Although no significant changes in the expressions of A3C, A3D, A3F and A3G between uninfected and HTLV-1-infected mice were observed, an increased A3B expression was observed in a short-term humanized mouse model following HTLV-1 infection. In a long-term humanized mouse model following HTLV-1 infection, the gene expression array data exhibited an apparent increase in A3B and CADM1, which are indicators of ATL. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that A3B is likely involved in the development of ATL in HTLV-1-infected humanized mice.

HIV Replication in Humanized IL-3/GM-CSF-Transgenic NOG Mice

The development of mouse models that mimic the kinetics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is critical for the understanding of the pathogenesis of disease and for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe the dynamics of HIV infection in humanized NOD/Shi-scid-IL2rγ^null (NOG) mice bearing the human genes for interleukin (IL)-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (NOG-EXL mice). The kinetics of viral load, as well as the frequencies of T-cells, B-cells, Natural killer cells (NK), monocytes, and dendritic cells in blood and secondary lymphoid organs were evaluated throughout the time of infection. In comparison with a non-transgenic humanized mouse (NSG) strain, lymphoid and myeloid populations were more efficiently engrafted in humanized NOG-EXL mice, both in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. In addition, HIV actively replicated in humanized NOG-EXL mice, and infection induced a decrease in the percentage of CD4⁺ T-cells, inversion of the CD4:CD8 ratio, and changes in some cell populations, such as monocytes and dendritic cells, that recapitulated those found in human natural infection. Thus, the humanized IL-3/GM-CSF-transgenic NOG mouse model is suitable for the study of the dynamics of HIV infection and provides a tool for basic and preclinical studies.

Human-Specific Adaptations in Vpu Conferring Anti-tetherin Activity Are Critical for Efficient Early HIV-1 Replication In Vivo

The HIV-1-encoded accessory protein Vpu exerts several immunomodulatory functions, including counteraction of the host restriction factor tetherin, downmodulation of CD4, and inhibition of NF-κB activity to facilitate HIV-1 infection. However, the relative contribution of individual Vpu functions to HIV-1 infection in vivo remained unclear. Here, we used a humanized mouse model and HIV-1 strains with selective mutations in vpu to demonstrate that the anti-tetherin activity of Vpu is a prerequisite for efficient viral spread during the early phase of infection. Mathematical modeling and gain-of-function mutations in SIVcpz, the simian precursor of pandemic HIV-1, corroborate this finding. Blockage of interferon signaling combined with transcriptome analyses revealed that basal tetherin levels are sufficient to control viral replication. These results establish tetherin as a key effector of the intrinsic immune defense against HIV-1, and they demonstrate that Vpu-mediated tetherin antagonism is critical for efficient viral spread during the initial phase of HIV-1 replication.

α4β7+ CD4+ Effector/Effector Memory T Cells Differentiate into Productively and Latently Infected Central Memory T Cells by Transforming Growth Factor β1 during HIV-1 Infection

HIV-1 transmission occurs mainly through mucosal tissues. During mucosal transmission, HIV-1 preferentially infects α₄β₇⁺ gut-homing CCR7^- CD4⁺ effector/effector memory T cells (T_EM) and results in massive depletion of these cells and other subsets of T_EM in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. However, besides being eliminated by HIV-1, the role of T_EM during the early stage of infection remains inconclusive. Here, using in vitro-induced α₄β₇⁺ gut-homing T_EM (α₄β₇⁺ T_EM), we found that α₄β₇⁺ T_EM differentiated into CCR7⁺ CD4⁺ central memory T cells (T_CM). This differentiation was HIV-1 independent but was inhibited by SB431542, a specific transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptor I kinase inhibitor. Consistently, T_EM-to-T_CM differentiation was observed in α₄β₇⁺ T_EM stimulated with TGF-β1 (TGF-β). The T_CM properties of the TGF-β-induced T_EM-derived T_CM (α₄β₇⁺ T_CM) were confirmed by their enhanced CCL19 chemotaxis and the downregulation of surface CCR7 upon T cell activation in vitro Importantly, the effect of TGF-β on T_CM differentiation also held in T_EM directly isolated from peripheral blood. To investigate the significance of the TGF-β-dependent T_EM-to-T_CM differentiation in HIV/AIDS pathogenesis, we observed that both productively and latently infected α₄β₇⁺ T_CM could differentiate from α₄β₇⁺ T_EM in the presence of TGF-β during HIV-1 infection. Collectively, this study not only provides a new insight for the plasticity of T_EM but also suggests that the TGF-β-dependent T_EM-to-T_CM differentiation is a previously unrecognized mechanism for the formation of latently infected T_CM after HIV-1 infection.IMPORTANCE HIV-1 is the causative agent of HIV/AIDS, which has led to millions of deaths in the past 30 years. Although the implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy has remarkably reduced the HIV-1-related morbidity and mortality, HIV-1 is not eradicated in treated patients due to the presence of latent reservoirs. Besides, the pathogenesis in CD4 T cells early after infection still remains elusive. Immediately after HIV-1 mucosal infection, CD4 T cells are preferentially infected and depleted. However, in addition to being depleted, the other roles of the CD4 T cells, especially the effector/effector memory T cells (T_EM), in disease progression are not completely understood. The significance of this study is in revealing a novel mechanism for the formation of latently HIV-1-infected central memory CD4 T cells, a major latent reservoir from CD4 T_EM after infection. Our findings suggest previously unrecognized roles of CD4 T_EM in HIV-1 pathogenesis.

Experimental Adaptive Evolution of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVcpz to Pandemic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 by Using a Humanized Mouse Model

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of AIDS, originated from simian immunodeficiency virus from chimpanzees (SIVcpz), the precursor of the human virus, approximately 100 years ago. This indicates that HIV-1 has emerged through the cross-species transmission of SIVcpz from chimpanzees to humans. However, it remains unclear how SIVcpz has evolved into pandemic HIV-1 in humans. To address this question, we inoculated three SIVcpz strains (MB897, EK505, and MT145), four pandemic HIV-1 strains (NL4-3, NLCSFV3, JRCSF, and AD8), and two nonpandemic HIV-1 strains (YBF30 and DJO0131). Humanized mice infected with SIVcpz strain MB897, a virus phylogenetically similar to pandemic HIV-1, exhibited a peak viral load comparable to that of mice infected with pandemic HIV-1, while peak viral loads of mice infected with SIVcpz strain EK505 or MT145 as well as nonpandemic HIV-1 strains were significantly lower. These results suggest that SIVcpz strain MB897 is preadapted to humans, unlike the other SIVcpz strains. Moreover, viral RNA sequencing of MB897-infected humanized mice identified a nonsynonymous mutation in env, a G413R substitution in gp120. The infectivity of the gp120 G413R mutant of MB897 was significantly higher than that of parental MB897. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the gp120 G413R mutant of MB897 augments the capacity for viral replication in both in vitro cell cultures and humanized mice. Taken together, this is the first experimental investigation to use an animal model to demonstrate a gain-of-function evolution of SIVcpz into pandemic HIV-1.IMPORTANCE From the mid-20th century, humans have been exposed to the menace of infectious viral diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. These outbreaks of emerging/reemerging viruses can be triggered by cross-species viral transmission from wild animals to humans, or zoonoses. HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS, emerged by the cross-species transmission of SIVcpz, the HIV-1 precursor in chimpanzees, around 100 years ago. However, the process by which SIVcpz evolved to become HIV-1 in humans remains unclear. Here, by using a hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized-mouse model, we experimentally recapitulate the evolutionary process of SIVcpz to become HIV-1. We provide evidence suggesting that a strain of SIVcpz, MB897, preadapted to infect humans over other SIVcpz strains. We further demonstrate a gain-of-function evolution of SIVcpz in infected humanized mice. Our study reveals that pandemic HIV-1 has emerged through at least two steps: preadaptation and subsequent gain-of-function mutations.

Dynamics and mechanisms of clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in a humanized mouse model

Combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) has drastically improved the clinical outcome of HIV-1 infection. Nonetheless, despite effective cART, HIV-1 persists indefinitely in infected individuals. Clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in peripheral blood has been reported recently. cART is effective in stopping the retroviral replication cycle, but not in inhibiting clonal expansion of the infected host cells. Thus, the proliferation of HIV-1-infected cells may play a role in viral persistence, but little is known about the kinetics of the generation, the tissue distribution or the underlying mechanism of clonal expansion in vivo. Here we analyzed the clonality of HIV-1-infected cells using high-throughput integration site analysis in a hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model. Clonally expanded, HIV-1-infected cells were detectable at two weeks post infection, their abundance increased with time, and certain clones were present in multiple organs. Expansion of HIV-1-infected clones was significantly more frequent when the provirus was integrated near host genes in specific gene ontological classes, including cell activation and chromatin regulation. These results identify potential drivers of clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in vivo.

HIV-1 competition experiments in humanized mice show that APOBEC3H imposes selective pressure and promotes virus adaptation

APOBEC3 (A3) family proteins are DNA cytosine deaminases recognized for contributing to HIV-1 restriction and mutation. Prior studies have demonstrated that A3D, A3F, and A3G enzymes elicit a robust anti-HIV-1 effect in cell cultures and in humanized mouse models. Human A3H is polymorphic and can be categorized into three phenotypes: stable, intermediate, and unstable. However, the anti-viral effect of endogenous A3H in vivo has yet to be examined. Here we utilize a hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model and demonstrate that stable A3H robustly affects HIV-1 fitness in vivo. In contrast, the selection pressure mediated by intermediate A3H is relaxed. Intriguingly, viral genomic RNA sequencing reveled that HIV-1 frequently adapts to better counteract stable A3H during replication in humanized mice. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and mathematical modeling suggest that stable A3H may be a critical factor in human-to-human viral transmission. Taken together, this study provides evidence that stable variants of A3H impose selective pressure on HIV-1.

A mature macrophage is a principal HIV-1 cellular reservoir in humanized mice after treatment with long acting antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Despite improved clinical outcomes seen following antiretroviral therapy (ART), resting CD4+ T cells continue to harbor latent human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1). However, such cells are not likely the solitary viral reservoir and as such defining where and how others harbor virus is imperative for eradication measures. To such ends, we used HIV-1_ADA-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc ^scid Il2rg ^tm1Wjl /SzJ mice reconstituted with a human immune system to explore two long-acting ART regimens investigating their abilities to affect viral cell infection and latency. At 6 weeks of infection animals were divided into four groups. One received long-acting (LA) cabotegravir (CAB) and rilpivirine (RVP) (2ART), a second received LA CAB, lamivudine, abacavir and RVP (4ART), a third were left untreated and a fourth served as an uninfected control. After 4 weeks of LA ART treatment, blood, spleen and bone marrow (BM) cells were collected then phenotypically characterized. CD4+ T cell subsets, macrophages and hematopoietic progenitor cells were analyzed for HIV-1 nucleic acids by droplet digital PCR.

RESULTS

Plasma viral loads were reduced by two log₁₀ or to undetectable levels in the 2 and 4ART regimens, respectively. Numbers and distributions of CD4+ memory and regulatory T cells, macrophages and hematopoietic progenitor cells were significantly altered by HIV-1 infection and by both ART regimens. ART reduced viral DNA and RNA in all cell and tissue compartments. While memory cells were the dominant T cell reservoir, integrated HIV-1 DNA was also detected in the BM and spleen macrophages in both regimen-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

Despite vigorous ART regimens, HIV-1 DNA and RNA were easily detected in mature macrophages supporting their potential role as an infectious viral reservoir.

Humanized mouse as an appropriate model for accelerated global HIV research and vaccine development: current trend

Humanized mouse models currently have seen improved development and have received wide applications. Its usefulness is observed in cell and tissue transplant involving basic and applied human disease research. In this article, the development of a new generation of humanized mice was discussed as well as their relevant application in HIV disease. Furthermore, current techniques employed to overcome the initial limitations of mouse model were reviewed. Highly immunodeficient mice which support cell and tissue differentiation and do not reject xenografts are indispensable for generating additional appropriate models useful in disease study, this phenomenom deserves emphases, scientific highlight and a definitive research focus. Since the early 2000s, a series of immunodeficient mice appropriate for generating humanized mice has been successively developed by introducing the IL-2Rγ^null gene (e.g. NOD/SCID/γc^null and Rag2^nullγc^null mice) through various genomic approaches. These mice were generated by genetically introducing human cytokine genes into NOD/SCID/γc^null and Rag2^nullγc^null mouse backgrounds. The application of these techniques serves as a quick and appropriate mechanistic model for basic and therapeutic investigations of known and emerging infections.

Splenic Damage during SIV Infection: Role of T-Cell Depletion and Macrophage Polarization and Infection

The effects of HIV infection on spleen and its cellular subsets have not been fully characterized, particularly for macrophages in which diverse populations exist. We used an accelerated SIV-infected macaque model to examine longitudinal effects on T-cell and macrophage populations and their susceptibilities to infection. Substantial lymphoid depletion occurred, characterized by follicular burn out and a loss of CD3 T lymphocytes, which was associated with cellular activation and transient dysregulations in CD4/CD8 ratios and memory effector populations. In contrast, the loss of CD68 and CD163(+)CD68(+) macrophages and increase in CD163 cells was irreversible, which began during acute infection and persisted until terminal disease. Mac387 macrophages and monocytes were transiently recruited into spleen, but were not sufficient to mitigate the changes in macrophage subsets. Type I interferon, M2 polarizing genes, and chemokine-chemokine receptor signaling were up-regulated in spleen and drove macrophage alterations. SIV-infected T cells were numerous within the white pulp during acute infection, but were rarely observed thereafter. CD68, CD163, and Mac387 macrophages were highly infected, which primarily occurred in the red pulp independent of T cells. Few macrophages underwent apoptosis, indicating that they are a long-lasting target for HIV/SIV. Our results identify macrophages as an important contributor to HIV/SIV infection in spleen and in promoting morphologic changes through the loss of specific macrophage subsets that mediate splenic organization.

Progesterone Levels Associate with a Novel Population of CCR5+CD38+ CD4 T Cells Resident in the Genital Mucosa with Lymphoid Trafficking Potential

The female genital tract (FGT) provides a means of entry to pathogens, including HIV, yet immune cell populations at this barrier between host and environment are not well defined. We initiated a study of healthy women to characterize resident T cell populations in the lower FGT from lavage and patient-matched peripheral blood to investigate potential mechanisms of HIV sexual transmission. Surprisingly, we observed FGT CD4 T cell populations were primarily CCR7(hi), consistent with a central memory or recirculating memory T cell phenotype. In addition, roughly half of these CCR7(hi) CD4 T cells expressed CD69, consistent with resident memory T cells, whereas the remaining CCR7(hi) CD4 T cells lacked CD69 expression, consistent with recirculating memory CD4 T cells that traffic between peripheral tissues and lymphoid sites. HIV susceptibility markers CCR5 and CD38 were increased on FGT CCR7(hi) CD4 T cells compared with blood, yet migration to the lymphoid homing chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 was maintained. Infection with GFP-HIV showed that FGT CCR7(hi) memory CD4 T cells are susceptible HIV targets, and productive infection of CCR7(hi) memory T cells did not alter chemotaxis to CCL19 and CCL21. Variations of resident CCR7(hi) FGT CD4 T cell populations were detected during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and longitudinal analysis showed the frequency of this population positively correlated to progesterone levels. These data provide evidence women may acquire HIV through local infection of migratory CCR7(hi) CD4 T cells, and progesterone levels predict opportunities for HIV to access these novel target cells.

Quantifying the effect of Vpu on the promotion of HIV-1 replication in the humanized mouse model

BACKGROUND

Tetherin is an intrinsic anti-viral factor impairing the release of nascent HIV-1 particles from infected cells. Vpu, an HIV-1 accessory protein, antagonizes the anti-viral action of tetherin. Although previous studies using in vitro cell culture systems have revealed the molecular mechanisms of the anti-viral action of tetherin and the antagonizing action of Vpu against tetherin, it still remains unclear how Vpu affects the kinetics of HIV-1 replication in vivo.

RESULTS

To quantitatively assess the role of Vpu in viral replication in vivo, we analyzed time courses of experimental data with viral load and target cell levels in the peripheral blood of humanized mice infected with wild-type and vpu-deficient HIV-1. Our recently developed mathematical model describes the acute phase of this infection reasonably, and allowed us to estimate several parameters characterizing HIV-1 infection in mice. Using a technique of Bayesian parameter estimation, we estimate distributions of the basic reproduction number of wild-type and vpu-deficient HIV-1. This reveals that Vpu markedly increases the rate of viral replication in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining experiments with mathematical modeling, we provide an estimate for the contribution of Vpu to viral replication in humanized mice.

HIV Replication Is Not Controlled by CD8+ T Cells during the Acute Phase of the Infection in Humanized Mice

HIV replication follows a well-defined pattern during the acute phase of the infection in humans. After reaching a peak during the first few weeks after infection, viral replication resolves to a set-point thereafter. There are still uncertainties regarding the contribution of CD8⁺ T cells in establishing this set-point. An alternative explanation, supported by in silico modeling, would imply that viral replication is limited by the number of available targets for infection, i.e. CD4⁺CCR5⁺ T cells. Here, we used NOD.SCID.gc^-/- mice bearing human CD4⁺CCR5⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells derived from CD34⁺ progenitors to investigate the relative contribution of both in viral control after the peak. Using low dose of a CCR5-tropic HIV virus, we observed an increase in viral replication followed by “spontaneous” resolution of the peak, similar to humans. To rule out any possible role for CD8⁺ T cells in viral control, we infected mice in which CD8⁺ T cells had been removed by a depleting antibody. Globally, viral replication was not affected by the absence of CD8⁺ T cells. Strikingly, resolution of the viral peak was equally observed in mice with or without CD8⁺ T cells, showing that CD8⁺ T cells were not involved in viral control in the early phase of the infection. In contrast, a marked and specific loss of CCR5-expressing CD4⁺ T cells was observed in the spleen and in the bone marrow, but not in the blood, of infected animals. Our results strongly suggest that viral replication during the acute phase of the infection in humanized mice is mainly constrained by the number of available targets in lymphoid tissues rather than by CD8⁺ T cells.

Experimental evaluation of the zoonotic infection potency of simian retrovirus type 4 using humanized mouse model

During 2001-2002 and 2008-2011, two epidemic outbreaks of infectious hemorrhagic disease have been found in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in Kyoto University Primate Research Institute, Japan. Following investigations revealed that the causative agent was simian retrovirus type 4 (SRV-4). SRV-4 was isolated by using human cell lines, which indicates that human cells are potently susceptible to SRV-4 infection. These raise a possibility of zoonotic infection of pathogenic SRV-4 from Japanese macaques into humans. To explore the possibility of zoonotic infection of SRV-4 to humans, here we use a human hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model. Eight out of the twelve SRV-4-inoculated humanized mice were infected with SRV-4. Importantly, 3 out of the 8 infected mice exhibited anemia and hemophagocytosis, and an infected mouse died. To address the possibility that SRV-4 adapts humanized mouse and acquires higher pathogenicity, the virus was isolated from an infected mice exhibited severe anemia was further inoculated into another 6 humanized mice. However, no infected mice exhibited any illness. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the zoonotic SRV-4 infection from Japanese macaques to humans is technically possible under experimental condition. However, such zoonotic infection may not occur in the real society.

In vivo analysis of Nef's role in HIV-1 replication, systemic T cell activation and CD4(+) T cell loss

Background

Nef is a multifunctional HIV-1 protein critical for progression to AIDS. Humans infected with nef(−) HIV-1 have greatly delayed or no disease consequences. We have contrasted nef(−) and nef(+) infection of BLT humanized mice to better characterize Nef’s pathogenic effects.

Results

Mice were inoculated with CCR5-tropic HIV-1_JRCSF (JRCSF) or JRCSF with an irreversibly inactivated nef (JRCSFNefdd). In peripheral blood (PB), JRCSF exhibited high levels of viral RNA (peak viral loads of 4.71 × 10⁶ ± 1.23 × 10⁶ copies/ml) and a progressive, 75% loss of CD4⁺ T cells over 17 weeks. Similar losses were observed in CD4⁺ T cells from bone marrow, spleen, lymph node, lung and liver but thymocytes were not significantly decreased. JRCSFNefdd also had high peak viral loads (2.31 × 10⁶ ± 1.67 × 10⁶) but induced no loss of PB CD4⁺ T cells. In organs, JRCSFNefdd produced small, but significant, reductions in CD4⁺ T cell levels and did not affect the level of thymocytes. Uninfected mice have low levels of HLA-DR⁺CD38⁺CD8⁺ T cells in blood (1–2%). Six weeks post inoculation, JRCSF infection resulted in significantly elevated levels of activated CD8⁺ T cells (6.37 ± 1.07%). T cell activation coincided with PB CD4⁺ T cell loss which suggests a common Nef-dependent mechanism. At 12 weeks, in JRCSF infected animals PB T cell activation sharply increased to 19.7 ± 2.9% then subsided to 5.4 ± 1.4% at 14 weeks. HLA-DR⁺CD38⁺CD8⁺ T cell levels in JRCSFNefdd infected mice did not rise above 1–2% despite sustained high levels of viremia. Interestingly, we also noted that in mice engrafted with human tissue expressing a putative protective HLA-B allele (B42:01), JRCSFNefdd exhibited a substantial (200-fold) reduced viral load compared to JRCSF.

Conclusions

Nef expression was necessary for both systemic T cell activation and substantial CD4⁺ T cell loss from blood and tissues. JRCSFNefdd infection did not activate CD8⁺ T cells or reduce the level of CD4⁺ T cells in blood but did result in a small Nef-independent decrease in CD4⁺ T cells in organs. These observations strongly support the conclusion that viral pathogenicity is mostly driven by Nef. We also observed for the first time substantial host-specific suppression of HIV-1 replication in a small animal infection model.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0187-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Quantifying the Antiviral Effect of IFN on HIV-1 Replication in Cell Culture

Type-I interferons (IFNs) induce the expression of hundreds of cellular genes, some of which have direct antiviral activities. Although IFNs restrict different steps of HIV replication cycle, their dominant antiviral effect remains unclear. We first quantified the inhibition of HIV replication by IFN in tissue culture, using viruses with different tropism and growth kinetics. By combining experimental and mathematical analyses, we determined quantitative estimates for key parameters of HIV replication and inhibition, and demonstrate that IFN mainly inhibits de novo infection (33% and 47% for a X4- and a R5-strain, respectively), rather than virus production (15% and 6% for the X4 and R5 strains, respectively). This finding is in agreement with patient-derived data analyses.

Impacts of humanized mouse models on the investigation of HIV-1 infection: illuminating the roles of viral accessory proteins in vivo

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encodes four accessory genes: vif, vpu, vpr, and nef. Recent investigations using in vitro cell culture systems have shed light on the roles of these HIV-1 accessory proteins, Vif, Vpr, Vpu, and Nef, in counteracting, modulating, and evading various cellular factors that are responsible for anti-HIV-1 intrinsic immunity. However, since humans are the exclusive target for HIV-1 infection, conventional animal models are incapable of mimicking the dynamics of HIV-1 infection in vivo. Moreover, the effects of HIV-1 accessory proteins on viral infection in vivo remain unclear. To elucidate the roles of HIV-1 accessory proteins in the dynamics of viral infection in vivo, humanized mouse models, in which the mice are xenotransplanted with human hematopoietic stem cells, has been utilized. This review describes the current knowledge of the roles of HIV-1 accessory proteins in viral infection, replication, and pathogenicity in vivo, which are revealed by the studies using humanized mouse models.

APOBEC3D and APOBEC3F potently promote HIV-1 diversification and evolution in humanized mouse model

Several APOBEC3 proteins, particularly APOBEC3D, APOBEC3F, and APOBEC3G, induce G-to-A hypermutations in HIV-1 genome, and abrogate viral replication in experimental systems, but their relative contributions to controlling viral replication and viral genetic variation in vivo have not been elucidated. On the other hand, an HIV-1-encoded protein, Vif, can degrade these APOBEC3 proteins via a ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Although APOBEC3 proteins have been widely considered as potent restriction factors against HIV-1, it remains unclear which endogenous APOBEC3 protein(s) affect HIV-1 propagation in vivo. Here we use a humanized mouse model and HIV-1 with mutations in Vif motifs that are responsible for specific APOBEC3 interactions, DRMR/AAAA (4A) or YRHHY/AAAAA (5A), and demonstrate that endogenous APOBEC3D/F and APOBEC3G exert strong anti-HIV-1 activity in vivo. We also show that the growth kinetics of 4A HIV-1 negatively correlated with the expression level of APOBEC3F. Moreover, single genome sequencing analyses of viral RNA in plasma of infected mice reveal that 4A HIV-1 is specifically and significantly diversified. Furthermore, a mutated virus that is capable of using both CCR5 and CXCR4 as entry coreceptor is specifically detected in 4A HIV-1-infected mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that APOBEC3D/F and APOBEC3G fundamentally work as restriction factors against HIV-1 in vivo, but at the same time, that APOBEC3D and APOBEC3F are capable of promoting viral diversification and evolution in vivo.

Mutation can produce three outcomes in viruses: detrimental, neutral, or beneficial. The first one leads to abrogation of virus replication because of error catastrophe, while the last one lets the virus escape from anti-viral immune system or adapt to the host. Human APOBEC3D, APOBEC3F, and APOBEC3G are cellular cytidine deaminases which cause G-to-A mutations in HIV-1 genome. Here we use a humanized mouse model and demonstrate that endogenous APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G induce G-to-A hypermutation in viral genomes and exert strong anti-HIV-1 activity in vivo. We also reveal that endogenous APOBEC3D and/or APOBEC3F induce viral diversification, which can lead to the emergence of a mutated virus that converts its coreceptor usage. Our results suggest that APOBEC3D and APOBEC3F are capable of promoting viral diversification and functional evolution in vivo.

Phosphorylation of herpes simplex virus 1 dUTPase regulates viral virulence and genome integrity by compensating for low cellular dUTPase activity in the central nervous system

A mutation in herpes simplex virus 1 dUTPase (vdUTPase), which precluded its phosphorylation at Ser-187, decreased viral neurovirulence and increased mutation frequency in progeny virus genomes in the brains of mice where endogenous cellular dUTPase activity was relatively low, and overexpression of cellular dUTPase restored viral neurovirulence and mutation frequency altered by the mutation. Thus, phosphorylation of vdUTPase appeared to regulate viral virulence and genome integrity by compensating for low cellular dUTPase activity in vivo.

IMPORTANCE

Many DNA viruses encode a homolog of host cell dUTPases, which are known to function in accurate replication of cellular DNA genomes. The viral dUTPase activity has long been assumed to play a role in viral replication by preventing mutations in progeny virus genomes if cellular dUTPase activity was not sufficient. Here, we showed that a mutation in herpes simplex virus 1 dUTPase, which precluded its phosphorylation at Ser-187 and reduced its activity, decreased viral neurovirulence and increased mutation frequency in progeny virus genomes in the brains of mice where endogenous cellular dUTPase activity was relatively low. In contrast, overexpression of cellular dUTPase restored viral neurovirulence and mutation frequency altered by the mutation in the brains of mice. This is the first report, to our knowledge, directly showing that viral dUTPase activity regulates viral genome integrity and pathogenicity by compensating for insufficient cellular dUTPase activity in vivo.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 Coreceptor Usage in Treatment-Naive Patients from An AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study

Phenotypic determination of HIV-1 coreceptor usage was performed on 593 pre-treatment plasma HIV-1 samples from treatment-naive participants in ACTG A5095. No human genetic variants were significantly associated with virus able to use CXCR4 for entry at the genome-wide level.

Objectives.

 We conducted a genome-wide association study to explore whether common host genetic variants (>5% frequency) were associated with presence of virus able to use CXCR4 for entry.

Methods.

 Phenotypic determination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 coreceptor usage was performed on pretreatment plasma HIV-1 samples from treatment-naive participants in AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5095, a study of initial antiretroviral regimens. Associations between genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), CCR5 Δ32 genotype, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles and viral coreceptor usage were explored.

Results.

 Viral phenotypes were obtained from 593 patients with available genome-wide SNP data. Forty-four percent of subjects had virus capable of using CXCR4 for entry as determined by phenotyping. Overall, no associations, including those between polymorphisms in genes encoding viral coreceptors and their promoter regions or in HLA genes previously associated with HIV-1 disease progression, passed the statistical threshold for genome-wide significance (P < 5.0 × 10⁻⁸) in any comparison. However, the presence of viruses able to use CXCR4 for entry was marginally associated with the CCR5 Δ32 genotype in the nongenome-wide analysis.

Conclusions.

 No human genetic variants were significantly associated with virus able to use CXCR4 for entry at the genome-wide level. Although the sample size had limited power to definitively exclude genetic associations, these results suggest that host genetic factors, including those that influence coreceptor expression or the immune pressures leading to viral envelope diversity, are either rare or have only modest effects in determining HIV-1 coreceptor usage.

Improving the estimation of the death rate of infected cells from time course data during the acute phase of virus infections: application to acute HIV-1 infection in a humanized mouse model

Background

Mathematical modeling of virus dynamics has provided quantitative insights into viral infections such as influenza, the simian immunodeficiency virus/human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Through modeling, we can estimate the half-life of infected cells, the exponential growth rate, and the basic reproduction number (R₀). To calculate R₀ from virus load data, the death rate of productively infected cells is required. This can be readily estimated from treatment data collected during the chronic phase, but is difficult to determine from acute infection data. Here, we propose two new models that can reliably estimate the average life span of infected cells from acute-phase data, and apply both methods to experimental data from humanized mice infected with HIV-1.

Methods

Both new models, called as the reduced quasi-steady state (RQS) model and the piece-wise regression (PWR) model, are derived by simplification of a standard model for the acute-phase dynamics of target cells, viruses and infected cells. By having only a limited number of parameters, both models allow us to reliably estimate the death rate of productively infected cells. Simulated datasets with plausible parameter values are generated with the standard model to compare the performance of the new models with that of the major previous model (i.e., the simple exponential model). Finally, we fit models to time course data from HIV-1 infected humanized mice to estimate the several important parameters characterizing their acute infection.

Results and conclusions

The new models provided much better estimates than the previous model because they more precisely capture the de novo infection process. Both models describe the acute phase of HIV-1 infected humanized mice reasonably well, and we estimated an average death rate of infected cells of 0.61 and 0.61, an average exponential growth rate of 0.69 and 0.76, and an average basic reproduction number of 2.30 and 2.38 in the RQS model and the PWR model, respectively. These estimates are fairly close to those obtained in humans.

HIV-1 Vpr accelerates viral replication during acute infection by exploitation of proliferating CD4+ T cells in vivo

The precise role of viral protein R (Vpr), an HIV-1-encoded protein, during HIV-1 infection and its contribution to the development of AIDS remain unclear. Previous reports have shown that Vpr has the ability to cause G₂ cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HIV-1-infected cells in vitro. In addition, vpr is highly conserved in transmitted/founder HIV-1s and in all primate lentiviruses, which are evolutionarily related to HIV-1. Although these findings suggest an important role of Vpr in HIV-1 pathogenesis, its direct evidence in vivo has not been shown. Here, by using a human hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model, we demonstrated that Vpr causes G₂ cell cycle arrest and apoptosis predominantly in proliferating CCR5⁺ CD4⁺ T cells, which mainly consist of regulatory CD4⁺ T cells (Tregs), resulting in Treg depletion and enhanced virus production during acute infection. The Vpr-dependent enhancement of virus replication and Treg depletion is observed in CCR5-tropic but not CXCR4-tropic HIV-1-infected mice, suggesting that these effects are dependent on the coreceptor usage by HIV-1. Immune activation was observed in CCR5-tropic wild-type but not in vpr-deficient HIV-1-infected humanized mice. When humanized mice were treated with denileukin diftitox (DD), to deplete Tregs, DD-treated humanized mice showed massive activation/proliferation of memory T cells compared to the untreated group. This activation/proliferation enhanced CCR5 expression in memory CD4⁺ T cells and rendered them more susceptible to CCR5-tropic wild-type HIV-1 infection than to vpr-deficient virus. Taken together, these results suggest that Vpr takes advantage of proliferating CCR5⁺ CD4⁺ T cells for enhancing viremia of CCR5-tropic HIV-1. Because Tregs exist in a higher cycling state than other T cell subsets, Tregs appear to be more vulnerable to exploitation by Vpr during acute HIV-1 infection.

HIV-1 encodes nine genes, five of which (gag, pol, env, tat, and rev) are essential for viral replication, and four, termed accessory genes (vif, vpu, nef, and vpr), appear to aid virus infection. Of the four accessory proteins, Vpr is the most enigmatic. It is well known that Vpr has the potential to cause G₂ cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, it has been reported that Vpr-mediated G₂ arrest increases HIV-1 production in vitro. However, the role of Vpr in HIV-1 propagation in vivo remains unclear. Here, by using a humanized mouse model, we demonstrate that Vpr enhances CCR5-tropic but not CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 replication in vivo by exploiting Tregs during acute infection. In CCR5-tropic HIV-1-infected humanized mice, Vpr-dependent G₂ cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are predominantly observed in infected Tregs, and wild-type but not vpr-deficient HIV-1-infected mice displayed acute Treg depletion. This Vpr-dependent Treg depletion may lead to immune activation and provide a pool of activated/proliferating CD4⁺ T cells, which supports subsequent HIV-1 expansion in vivo. This is the first report demonstrating the role of Vpr in HIV-1 infection in vivo.

An animal model of adult T-cell leukemia: humanized mice with HTLV-1-specific immunity

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is causally associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), an aggressive T-cell malignancy with a poor prognosis. To elucidate ATL pathogenesis in vivo, a variety of animal models have been established; however, the mechanisms driving this disorder remain poorly understood due to deficiencies in each of these animal models. Here, we report a novel HTLV-1-infected humanized mouse model generated by intra-bone marrow injection of human CD133(+) stem cells into NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγc null (NOG) mice (IBMI-huNOG mice). Upon infection, the number of CD4(+) human T cells in the periphery increased rapidly, and atypical lymphocytes with lobulated nuclei resembling ATL-specific flower cells were observed 4 to 5 months after infection. Proliferation was seen in both CD25(-) and CD25(+) CD4 T cells with identical proviral integration sites; however, a limited number of CD25(+)-infected T-cell clones eventually dominated, indicating an association between clonal selection of infected T cells and expression of CD25. Additionally, HTLV-1-specific adaptive immune responses were induced in infected mice and might be involved in the control of HTLV-1-infected cells. Thus, the HTLV-1-infected IBMI-huNOG mouse model successfully recapitulated the development of ATL and may serve as an important tool for investigating in vivo mechanisms of ATL leukemogenesis and evaluating anti-ATL drug and vaccine candidates.

Oral administration of an HSP90 inhibitor, 17-DMAG, intervenes tumor-cell infiltration into multiple organs and improves survival period for ATL model mice

In the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from the carriers of the human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) or the patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB)-mediated antiapoptotic signals are constitutively activated primarily by the HTLV-1-encoded oncoprotein Tax. Tax interacts with the I κB kinase regulatory subunit NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator) to activate NF-κB, and this interaction is maintained in part by a molecular chaperone, heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90), and its co-chaperone cell division cycle 37 (CDC37). The antibiotic geldanamycin (GA) inhibits HSP90's ATP binding for its proper interaction with client proteins. Administration of a novel water-soluble and less toxic GA derivative, 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin hydrochloride (17-DMAG), to Tax-expressing ATL-transformed cell lines, C8166 and MT4, induced significant degradation of Tax. 17-DMAG also facilitated growth arrest and cellular apoptosis to C8166 and MT4 and other ATL cell lines, although this treatment has no apparent effects on normal PBLs. 17-DMAG also downregulated Tax-mediated intracellular signals including the activation of NF-κB, activator protein 1 or HTLV-1 long terminal repeat in Tax-transfected HEK293 cells. Oral administration of 17-DMAG to ATL model mice xenografted with lymphomatous transgenic Lck-Tax (Lck proximal promoter-driven Tax transgene) cells or HTLV-1-producing tumor cells dramatically attenuated aggressive infiltration into multiple organs, inhibited de novo viral production and improved survival period. These observations identified 17-DMAG as a promising candidate for the prevention of ATL progression.

New generation humanized mice for virus research: comparative aspects and future prospects

Work with human specific viruses will greatly benefit from the use of an in vivo system that provides human target cells and tissues in a physiological setting. In this regard humanized mice (hu-Mice) have played an important role in our understanding of viral pathogenesis and testing of therapeutic strategies. Limitations with earlier versions of hu-Mice that lacked a functioning human immune system are currently being overcome. The new generation hu-Mouse models are capable of multilineage human hematopoiesis and generate T cells, B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells required for an adaptive human immune response. Now any human specific pathogen that can infect humanized mice can be studied in the context of ongoing infection and immune responses. Two leading humanized mouse models are currently employed: the hu-HSC model is created by transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), whereas the BLT mouse model is prepared by transplantation of human fetal liver, thymus and HSC. A number of human specific viruses such as HIV-1, dengue, EBV and HCV are being studied intensively in these systems. Both models permit infection by mucosal routes with viruses such as HIV-1 thus allowing transmission prevention studies. Cellular and humoral immune responses are seen in both the models. While there is efficient antigen specific IgM production, IgG responses are suboptimal due to inefficient immunoglobulin class switching. With the maturation of T cells occurring in the autologous human thymus, BLT mice permit human HLA restricted T cell responses in contrast to hu-HSC mice. However, the strength of the immune responses needs further improvement in both models to reach the levels seen in humans. The scope of hu-Mice use is further broadened by transplantation of additional tissues like human liver thus permitting immunopathogenesis studies on hepatotropic viruses such as HCV. Numerous studies that encompass antivirals, gene therapy, viral evolution, and the generation of human monoclonal antibodies have been conducted with promising results in these mice. For further improvement of the new hu-Mouse models, ongoing work is focused on generating new strains of immunodeficient mice transgenic for human HLA molecules to strengthen immune responses and human cytokines and growth factors to improve human cell reconstitution and their homeostatic maintenance.

Expansion of activated memory CD4+ T cells affects infectivity of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 in humanized NOD/SCID/JAK3null mice

Humanized mice reconstituted with human hematopoietic cells have been developed as an experimental animal model for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Myeloablative irradiation is usually performed to augment the engraftment of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in recipient mice; however, some mouse strains are susceptible to irradiation, making longitudinal analysis difficult. We previously attempted to construct humanized NOD/SCID/JAK3^null (hNOJ) mice, which were not irradiated prior to human HSC transplantation. We found that, over time, many of the reconstituted CD4⁺ T cells expanded with an activated effector memory phenotype. Therefore, the present study used hNOJ mice that were irradiated (hNOJ (IR+)) or not (hNOJ (IR−)) prior to human HSC transplantation to examine whether the development and cellularity of the reconstituted CD4⁺ T cells were influenced by the degree of chimerism, and whether they affected HIV-1 infectivity. Indeed, hNOJ (IR+) mice showed a greater degree of chimerism than hNOJ (IR−) mice. However, the conversion of CD4⁺ T cells to an activated effector memory phenotype, with a high percentage of cells showing Ki-67 expression, occurred in both hNOJ (IR+) and hNOJ (IR−) mice, probably as a result of lymphopenia-induced homeostatic expansion. Furthermore, when hNOJ (IR+) and hNOJ (IR−) mice, which were selected as naïve- and memory CD4⁺ T cell subset-rich groups, respectively, were infected with CCR5-tropic HIV-1 in vivo, virus replication (as assessed by the plasma viral load) was delayed; however, the titer subsequently reached a 1-log higher level in memory-rich hNOJ (IR−) mice than in naïve-rich hNOJ (IR+) mice, indicating that virus infectivity in hNOJ mice was affected by the different status of the reconstituted CD4⁺ T cells. Therefore, the hNOJ mouse model should be used selectively, i.e., according to the specific experimental objectives, to gain an appropriate understanding of HIV-1 infection/pathogenesis.

Effective elicitation of human effector CD8+ T Cells in HLA-B*51:01 transgenic humanized mice after infection with HIV-1

Humanized mice are expected to be useful as small animal models for in vivo studies on the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. However, it is well known that human CD8⁺ T cells cannot differentiate into effector cells in immunodeficient mice transplanted with only human CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), because human T cells are not educated by HLA in the mouse thymus. We here established HLA-B*51:01 transgenic humanized mice by transplanting human CD34⁺ HSCs into HLA-B*51:01 transgenic NOD/SCID/Jak3^−/− mice (hNOK/B51Tg mice) and investigated whether human effector CD8⁺ T cells would be elicited in the mice or in those infected with HIV-1 NL4-3. There were no differences in the frequency of late effector memory and effector subsets (CD27^lowCD28⁻CD45RA^+/−CCR7⁻ and CD27⁻CD28⁻CD45RA^+/−CCR7⁻, respectively) among human CD8⁺ T cells and in that of human CD8⁺ T cells expressing CX3CR1 and/or CXCR1 between hNOK/B51Tg and hNOK mice. In contrast, the frequency of late effector memory and effector CD8⁺ T cell subsets and of those expressing CX3CR1 and/or CXCR1 was significantly higher in HIV-1-infected hNOK/B51Tg mice than in uninfected ones, whereas there was no difference in that of these subsets between HIV-1-infected and uninfected hNOK mice. These results suggest that hNOK/B51Tg mice had CD8⁺ T cells that were capable of differentiating into effector T cells after viral antigen stimulation and had a greater ability to elicit effector CD8⁺ T cells than hNOK ones.

Can humanized mice reflect the complex pathobiology of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders?

There is a rebirth of humanized mouse models in reflecting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathobiology. This has allowed new investigations of viral diversity, immunity and developmental therapeutics. In the past, HIV infection and disease were, in part, mirrored in immune deficient mice reconstituted with human hematopoietic stem cells. What remained from early studies reflected the ability to mirror central nervous system (CNS) disease. As the wide spread use of combination antiretroviral therapies has changed the severity, but not prevalence, of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), mimicking such virus-induced CNS morbidities in humanized animals is essential for HIV/AIDS research activities. To this end, we now review the evidence for how and under what circumstances humanized mice may be utilized for studies of HIV-1 neuropathogenesis.

HIV-1 immunopathogenesis in humanized mouse models

In recent years, the technology of constructing chimeric mice with humanized immune systems has markedly improved. Multiple lineages of human immune cells develop in immunodeficient mice that have been transplanted with human hematopoietic stem cells. More importantly, these mice mount functional humoral and cellular immune responses upon immunization or microbial infection. Human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) can establish an infection in humanized mice, resulting in CD4(+) T-cell depletion and an accompanying nonspecific immune activation, which mimics the immunopathology in HIV-1-infected human patients. This makes humanized mice an optimal model for studying the mechanisms of HIV-1 immunopathogenesis and for developing novel immune-based therapies.

Vpu augments the initial burst phase of HIV-1 propagation and downregulates BST2 and CD4 in humanized mice

While human cells express potent antiviral proteins as part of the host defense repertoire, viruses have evolved their own arsenal of proteins to antagonize them. BST2 was identified as an inhibitory cellular protein of HIV-1 replication, which tethers virions to the cell surface to prevent their release. On the other hand, the HIV-1 accessory protein, Vpu, has the ability to downregulate and counteract BST2. Vpu also possesses the ability to downmodulate cellular CD4 and SLAMF6 molecules expressed on infected cells. However, the role of Vpu in HIV-1 infection in vivo remains unclear. Here, using a human hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model, we demonstrate that Vpu contributes to the efficient spread of HIV-1 in vivo during the acute phase of infection. Although Vpu did not affect viral cytopathicity, target cell preference, and the level of viral protein expression, the amount of cell-free virions in vpu-deficient HIV-1-infected mice was profoundly lower than that in wild-type HIV-1-infected mice. We provide a novel insight suggesting that Vpu concomitantly downregulates BST2 and CD4, but not SLAMF6, from the surface of infected cells. Furthermore, we show evidence suggesting that BST2 and CD4 impair the production of cell-free infectious virions but do not associate with the efficiency of cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Taken together, our findings suggest that Vpu downmodulates BST2 and CD4 in infected cells and augments the initial burst of HIV-1 replication in vivo. This is the first report demonstrating the role of Vpu in HIV-1 infection in an in vivo model.

Rodent models for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) reflect the spectrum of neural impairments seen during chronic viral infection. Current research efforts focus on improving antiretroviral and adjunctive therapies, defining disease onset and progression, facilitating drug delivery, and halting neurodegeneration and viral resistance. Because HIV is species-specific, generating disease in small-animal models has proved challenging. After two decades of research, rodent HAND models now include those containing a human immune system. Antiviral responses, neuroinflammation and immunocyte blood-brain barrier (BBB) trafficking follow HIV infection in these rodent models. We review these and other rodent models of HAND and discuss their unmet potential in reflecting human pathobiology and in facilitating disease monitoring and therapeutic discoveries.

In utero activation of fetal memory T cells alters host regulatory gene expression and affects HIV susceptibility

In utero priming to malaria antigens renders cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) more susceptible to productive HIV infection in vitro in the absence of exogenous stimulation. This provides a unique model to better understand mechanisms affecting lymphocyte susceptibility to HIV infection in vivo. Effector memory CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells (T(EM)) were the exclusive initial targets of HIV with rapid spread to central memory cells. HIV susceptibility correlated with increased expression of CD25 and HLA-DR on T(EM). Virus entered all samples equally, however gag/pol RNA was only detected in HIV susceptible samples, suggesting regulation of proviral gene transcription. Targeted analysis of human genes in memory T cells showed greater expression of IFNG, NFATc1, IRF1, FOS, and PPIA and decreased expression YY1 and TFCP2 in HIV susceptible samples. Thus fetal priming to exogenous antigens enhances specific proviral gene transcription pathways in effector memory cells that may increase risk of vertical transmission of HIV.

The utility of the new generation of humanized mice to study HIV-1 infection: transmission, prevention, pathogenesis, and treatment

Substantial improvements have been made in recent years in the ability to engraft human cells and tissues into immunodeficient mice. The use of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) leads to multi-lineage human hematopoiesis accompanied by production of a variety of human immune cell types. Population of murine primary and secondary lymphoid organs with human cells occurs, and long-term engraftment has been achieved. Engrafted cells are capable of producing human innate and adaptive immune responses, making these models the most physiologically relevant humanized animal models to date. New models have been successfully infected by a variety of strains of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), accompanied by virus replication in lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs, including the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, the male and female reproductive tracts, and the brain. Multiple forms of virus-induced pathogenesis are present, and human T cell and antibody responses to HIV-1 are detected. These humanized mice are susceptible to a high rate of rectal and vaginal transmission of HIV-1 across an intact epithelium, indicating the potential to study vaccines and microbicides. Antiviral drugs, siRNAs, and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy strategies have all been shown to be effective at reducing viral load and preventing or reversing helper T cell loss in humanized mice, indicating that they will serve as an important preclinical model to study new therapeutic modalities. HIV-1 has also been shown to evolve in response to selective pressures in humanized mice, thus showing that the model will be useful to study and/or predict viral evolution in response to drug or immune pressures. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings reported to date on all new humanized mouse models (those transplanted with human HSCs) in regards to HIV-1 sexual transmission, pathogenesis, anti-HIV-1 immune responses, viral evolution, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and gene therapeutic strategies.

The mouse is out of the bag: insights and perspectives on HIV-1-infected humanized mouse models

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), which is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a human-specific virus. Because HIV-1 cannot infect and cause disorders in other animals, it has been an arduous struggle to study the dynamics of HIV-1 infection in vivo. To understand and elucidate HIV-1 pathogenesis in vivo, several small animal models for HIV-1 infection have been established and improved over the last 20 years. Recently, a novel murine model, 'humanized mouse', has been generated. A humanized mouse has the potential to maintain human hematopoiesis including human CD4(+) leukocytes and, therefore, is able to support persistent HIV-1 infection in vivo. We herein describe the current state-of-the-art in HIV-1-infected humanized mice and introduce insights and perspectives of their use for HIV-1 studies in vivo.

A novel animal model of Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in humanized mice

EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is a rare yet devastating disorder caused by EBV infection in humans. However, the mechanism of this disease has yet to be elucidated because of a lack of appropriate animal models. Here, we used a human CD34(+) cell-transplanted humanized mouse model and reproduced pathologic conditions resembling EBV-HLH in humans. By 10 weeks postinfection, two-thirds of the infected mice died after exhibiting high and persistent viremia, leukocytosis, IFN-γ cytokinenemia, normocytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. EBV-infected mice also showed systemic organ infiltration by activated CD8(+) T cells and prominent hemophagocytosis in BM, spleen, and liver. Notably, the level of EBV load in plasma correlated directly with both the activation frequency of CD8(+) T cells and the level of IFN-γ in plasma. Moreover, high levels of EBV-encoded small RNA1 were detected in plasma of infected mice, reflecting what has been observed in patients. These findings suggest that our EBV infection model mirrors virologic, hematologic, and immunopathologic aspects of EBV-HLH. Furthermore, in contrast to CD8(+) T cells, we found a significant decrease of natural killer cells, myeloid dendritic cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the spleens of infected mice, suggesting that the collapse of balanced immunity associates with the progression of EBV-HLH pathogenesis.

Cumulative mechanisms of lymphoid tissue fibrosis and T cell depletion in HIV-1 and SIV infections

The hallmark of HIV-1 and SIV infections is CD4(+) T cell depletion. Both direct cell killing and indirect mechanisms related to immune activation have been suggested to cause the depletion of T cells. We have now identified a mechanism by which immune activation-induced fibrosis of lymphoid tissues leads to depletion of naive T cells in HIV-1 infected patients and SIV-infected rhesus macaques. The T regulatory cell response to immune activation increased procollagen production and subsequent deposition as fibrils via the TGF-β1 signaling pathway and chitinase 3-like-1 activity in fibroblasts in lymphoid tissues from patients infected with HIV-1. Collagen deposition restricted T cell access to the survival factor IL-7 on the fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) network, resulting in apoptosis and depletion of T cells, which, in turn, removed a major source of lymphotoxin-β, a survival factor for FRCs during SIV infection in rhesus macaques. The resulting loss of FRCs and the loss of IL-7 produced by FRCs may thus perpetuate a vicious cycle of depletion of T cells and the FRC network. Because this process is cumulative, early treatment and antifibrotic therapies may offer approaches to moderate T cell depletion and improve immune reconstitution during HIV-1 infection.

Mice with human immune system components as in vivo models for infections with human pathogens

Many pathogens relevant to human disease do not infect other animal species. Therefore, animal models that reconstitute or harbor human tissues are explored as hosts for these. In this review, we will summarize recent advances to utilize mice with human immune system components, reconstituted from hematopoietic progenitor cells in vivo. Such mice can be used to study human pathogens that replicate in leukocytes. In addition to studying the replication of these pathogens, the reconstituted human immune system components can also be analyzed for initiating immune responses and control against these infections. Moreover, these new animal models of human infectious disease should replicate the reactivity of the human immune system to vaccine candidates and, especially, the adjuvants contained in them, more faithfully.

Remarkable lethal G-to-A mutations in vif-proficient HIV-1 provirus by individual APOBEC3 proteins in humanized mice

Genomic hypermutation of RNA viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), can be provoked by intrinsic and extrinsic pressures, which lead to the inhibition of viral replication and/or the progression of viral diversity. Human APOBEC3G was identified as an HIV-1 restriction factor, which edits nascent HIV-1 DNA by inducing G-to-A hypermutations and debilitates the infectivity of vif-deficient HIV-1. On the other hand, HIV-1 Vif protein has the robust potential to degrade APOBEC3G protein. Although subsequent investigations have revealed that lines of APOBEC3 family proteins have the capacity to mutate HIV-1 DNA, it remains unclear whether these endogenous APOBEC3s, including APOBEC3G, contribute to mutations of vif-proficient HIV-1 provirus in vivo and, if so, what is the significance of these mutations. In this study, we use a human hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse (NOG-hCD34 mouse) model and demonstrate the predominant accumulation of G-to-A mutations in vif-proficient HIV-1 provirus displaying characteristics of APOBEC3-mediated mutagenesis. Notably, the APOBEC3-associated G-to-A mutation of HIV-1 DNA that leads to the termination of translation was significantly observed. We further provide a novel insight suggesting that HIV-1 G-to-A hypermutation is independently induced by individual APOBEC3 proteins. In contrast to the prominent mutation in intracellular proviral DNA, viral RNA in plasma possessed fewer G-to-A mutations. Taken together, these results provide the evidence indicating that endogenous APOBEC3s are associated with G-to-A mutation of HIV-1 provirus in vivo, which can result in the abrogation of HIV-1 infection.

Current humanized mouse models for studying human immunology and HIV-1 immuno-pathogenesis

A robust animal model for "hypothesis-testing/mechanistic" research in human immunology and immuno-pathology should meet the following criteria. First, it has well-studied hemato-lymphoid organs and target cells similar to those of humans. Second, the human pathogens establish infection and lead to relevant diseases. Third, it is genetically inbred and can be manipulated via genetic, immunological and pharmacological means. Many human-tropic pathogens such as HIV-1 fail to infect murine cells due to the blocks at multiple steps of their life cycle. The mouse with a reconstituted human immune system and other human target organs is a good candidate. A number of human-mouse chimeric models with human immune cells have been developed in the past 20 years, but most with only limited success due to the selective engraftment of xeno-reactive human T cells in hu-PBL-SCID mice or the lack of significant human immune responses in the SCID-hu Thy/Liv mouse. This review summarizes the current understanding of HIV-1 immuno-pathogenesis in human patients and in SIV-infected primate models. It also reviews the recent progress in the development of humanized mouse models with a functional human immune system, especially the recent progress in the immunodeficient mice that carry a defective gammaC gene. NOD/SCID/gammaC(-/-) (NOG or NSG) or the Rag2(-/-)gammaC(-/-) double knockout (DKO) mice, which lack NK as well as T and B cells (NTB-null mice), have been used to reconstitute a functional human immune system in central and peripheral lymphoid organs with human CD34(+) HSC. These NTB-hu HSC humanized models have been used to investigate HIV-1 infection, immuno-pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions. Such models, with further improvements, will contribute to study human immunology, human-tropic pathogens as well as human stem cell biology in the tissue development and function in vivo.